MEET Andrea Lopa, winner of the Bench Local Love trophy at the recent LOOK of Style Awards.
She reworked a top and skirt, adding more functional features and incorporating an indigenous aspect. This is but a fraction of her achievements— Lopa graduated from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde with a degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising. She was also a StyLIZed contributor and an assistant to Liz Uy.
She served as product development associate at Rags2Riches, a local fashion and design house that creates business opportunities to help alleviate poverty. The job made her more knowledgeable of the sustainability of social enterprises. She was able to weave her passion for fashion with a vocation to help others.
Lopa is currently venturing into her own personal project and going back to what she loves—creating clothes with meaning. She constantly challenges herself to make her designs more than just beautiful—she wants them to be functional.
She wants to create clothes that will, in her words, “maximize the use of materials and labor while at the same time minimize negative impact on the environment.” She also expresses wanting to learn theater costume design in order to expand her style skills.
With her talent, big heart and a drive to succeed, this designer is poised to take the fashion world by storm.
Simple, functional
Who’s your fashion icon?
Personally I’ve always had a fascination for Twiggy and Alexa Chung. I love anything retro. Twiggy, to me, just screams retro with her baby doll dresses. Her boyish cropped pixie cut will forever be iconic.
I love how effortless Chung is when it comes to fashion. She also has a tomboyish look but still acts like a lady. I hope that someday she will wear something I designed.
You won a special award at the recent LOOK of Style Awards. What would you say is the strongest aspect of your design?
I was surprised because my look was very simple. I did not expect anyone to notice the changes I made, but I’m very glad that the judges acknowledged them. I think the strongest aspect of my design was that the look was simple, but had functional and creative details. I made sure that the pieces were wearable. Both the top and the skirt were reversible, and can be worn with other classic pieces in your wardrobe.
What do you want people to feel when they see or wear your designs?
When I create a new design or sew a new garment, I treat it as my art piece as a painter would a painting. I hope that people see it as such, and that it gives them joy and confidence. It’s a delight to hear and see someone wearing my design with a smile of satisfaction.
What is your current inspiration?
I’m currently working on a new series which focuses on sustainability. It is something I’ve been interested in lately and doing research on. An issue I ponder on is that there is already much to be consumed in the world, especially in fashion. I still have a lot to learn, but also do my best to create more responsibly and make others aware of this.
Photography Gee Plamenco
Styling Luis Carlo San Juan
Makeup Angela Yeo
Hairstyle Mark Familara for Kiehl’s
Model Yaofa Dela Cruz of Mercator Model Management and Sam Gomez of CalCarries
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